View clinical trials related to Occipital Neuralgia.
Filter by:The International Headache Society (IHS) defines occipital neuralgia, as a unilateral or bilateral paroxysmal, shooting, or stabbing pain in the posterior region of the scalp, in the distribution of the greater occipital nerve (GON), lesser occipital nerve (LON), or third occipital nerve (TON). The condition is occasionally accompanied by diminished sensation or dysesthesia in the affected area and is frequently associated with tenderness over the involved nerves. The majority of cases with occipital neuralgia are idiopathic, with no clearly defined anatomical cause. First, conservative treatment approaches including medication and physical therapy are frequently used. When conservative measures fail to alleviate occipital neuralgia, interventional treatments such as local occipital nerve anesthetic and corticosteroid infiltration, botulinum toxin A injection, occipital nerve subcutaneous neurostimulation or occipital nerve radifrequency treatment may be used.
In this study, the effect of nerve blockade and radiofrequency treatment applied to the nerve on pain in chronic migraine patients will be investigated. Occipital nerve blockade group (control group): Depending on the location of the pain, blockade will be applied unilaterally or bilaterally with 5 cc of 2% prilocaine for each sıde. Pulse Radiofrequency application to the greater occipital nerve will be applicated after radiofrequency cannula placed near the greater occipital nerve location with 42 degree, for 240 seconds.
The purpose of this study is to learn if pain can be relieved by delivering small amounts of electricity (called "electrical stimulation") to the nerves at the top of the neck. This study will use a device called the SPRINT® PNS System. PNS stands for peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). This device is cleared by the FDA for up to 60 days of use for relief of chronic or acute pain.
This is a randomized, double blind, single-center, clinical trial. The study will be conducted over a period of 6 months. The study will be conducted at the Allevio Pain Clinic, Toronto, Canada.
This study is a randomized controlled trial, assessing the effect of a single platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection in post traumatic (concussive) greater occipital neuralgia. This study will compare the effects of a single PRP injection to injection with steroid and anesthetic. There will also be a third arm to the study, in which patients will receive an injection with normal saline. This study will assess the severity and frequency of headache symptoms before and after receiving the injection.
This study will compare the analgesic benefit of a traditional landmark-guided GON block with the ultrasound-guided approach over a four week period in patients with occipital neuralgia or cervicogenic headache.
Medically intractable pain caused by occipital neuralgia can be very difficult to control with traditional pain management. Peripheral nerve stimulation which is used in migraines and cluster headache can be an alternative for these patients with occipital neuralgias when medical treatment and traditional pain management have failed (drugs for neuropathic pain, infiltrations, psychobehavioral approaches and multidisciplinary approach in a pain center). Occipital nerve stimulation consists to put a lead subcutaneously in front of the occipital nerve and to connect the lead to a pulse generator. A retrospective study of 60 patients was conducted in Nantes University Hospital. The results were good with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) decreased from 8.4 preoperatively to 2.85 postoperatively. The medical quantification scale (MQS) was reduced to about 50% (18 preoperatively versus 9.9 postoperatively). Stimulation was quiet stable over time with a mean follow-up of 24 months (range 6 to 72 months). The aim of StimO is to confirm this result through a national controlled randomized multicenter study where occipital nerve stimulation will be compared to the optimal medical management.
Occipital neuralgia and subsequent headaches are associated with significant morbidity and impact quality of life and ability to work. Treatment is primarily medical and consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and medications to treat neuropathic pain. Many patient exhaust medical management options and suffer from persistent symptoms. Surgical management of chronic headaches including occipital neuralgia is emerging as a tool to relieve pain and the burden of morbidity associated with this condition. Dr. Bahman Guyuron has been reporting positive results in the literature for the past 20 years. In a systematic review of 14 papers it has been demonstrated that peripheral nerve surgery for migraines is effective and leads to an improvement of symptoms for 86% of patients. Complication rates were low across all studies included. Additionally, Dr Ivica Ducic has reported success specifically treating occipital neuralgia headaches, with significant improvements in subjective pain outcomes post-operatively. The mechanism behind this is thought to be similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, whereby peripheral nerve compression causes nerve irritation and pain. The ensuing inflammatory response to tissue injury can cause sensitization of nociceptors, resulting in hyperalgesia or allodynia. Surgical release of tight surrounding soft tissues results in nerve decompression and relief of symptoms. Although there are multiple case series and empiric evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of occipital migraine surgery, there are no randomized controlled studies comparing surgical intervention with continued medical management. As part of the present study, the investigators intend to randomize patients who have exhausted maximal medical treatment of post-traumatic occipital headaches to either a surgical management group or a continued medical management group. Surgical intervention will consist of neurolysis, or release, of the occipital nerves.
This study is designed to answer the question of whether injection of the greater occipital nerve at its proximal origin, near the C2 vertebrae, using ultrasound guidance is effective in improving pain in human subjects. HYPOTHESES 1. Ultrasound (US) guided greater occipital nerve (GON) injections are effective at a novel, proximal C2 location in live, human subjects, measured by improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores pre-injection compared to VAS scores 30 minutes post-injection, 2-weeks post-injection, and 1-month post-injection . 2. Ultrasound (US) guided injection of the greater occipital nerve (GON) at a novel, C2 location is effective at improvement of both occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headache demonstrated by improvement in visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores pre-injection compared to VAS scores 30 minutes post-injection, 2-weeks post-injection, and 1-month post-injection. We further hypothesize that the mean improvement in VAS scores at 1-month post injection will be greater than 2 units. 3. Ultrasound (US) guided injection of the greater occipital nerve (GON) at novel, proximal C2 location in live, human subjects appears safe.
A proof of concept study to evaluate the feasibility of safe and effective treatment through optimization of the Cryo-Touch III device for temporary relief of or reduction in pain due to occipital neuralgia.